NEW ORLEANS -- Ray Lewis continued to deny the validity of a Sports Illustrated story accusing him of attempting to purchase a banned substance.

At his Super Bowl XLVII news conference Wednesday, Lewis’ denial was even more forceful than it had been on Tuesday. The story linked Lewis to deer antler spray to aid his recovery from a torn triceps. Lewis said he was "agitated" about the report and blamed the story on "cowards."

Ray Lewis reportedly has been linked to banned substances as part of his recovery from a triceps injury this season. His Ravens play in the Super Bowl on Sunday. (AP Photo)

"I think this is probably one of the most embarrassing things that we can do, on this type of stage," Lewis said. "When you let cowards come in and do things like that, to try to stir something. It’s just sad that someone can have this much attention on a stage this big. I don’t need it, my teammates don’t need it, the 49ers don’t need it, nobody needs it. It’s very foolish."

Lewis insisted the accusation would not distract the Ravens from their preparations for the Super Bowl.

"It’s not (a distraction), it’s a joke if you know me," Lewis said. "I’ve been in this game 17 years. I have too much respect for the business and my body to ever violate (it) like that. To entertain foolishness like that, from cowards who come from the outside to try to destroy what we’ve built? It’s sad to even entertain it on this type of stage.’’

Ravens coach John Harbaugh strongly backed Lewis and expected him to remain focused on Sunday’s game.

"Ray is a singularly focused individual," Harbaugh said Wednesday. "He also knows there’s nothing to it. That’s something he’s never, ever been involved with. It’s kind of too bad that someone was given an opportunity to get some free publicity out there, undeserved and unearned.’’

Harabugh said he spoke to Lewis about the situation and came away unconcerned.

"As a football team, it’s not a factor for us," Harbaugh said. "He kind of laughed about it and he told me there’s nothing to it. Ray’s honest. Ray’s straightforward. He’s told us in the past, he’s told us now that he’s never taken any of that stuff -- ever. I believe Ray, I trust Ray completely. We have a relationship. I know this man, I know what he’s all about. It’s just too bad that it has to be something that gets so much play."

The comprehensive report says that shortly after suffering the injury, Lewis placed a call to the co-owner of a company called S.W.A.T.S., "Sports With Alternatives to Steroids." Its website claims to "provide athletes with healthy alternatives to sports performance enhancers."

Mitch Ross, reportedly a former male stripper and admitted former steroid dealer, taped the conversation with Lewis, SI.com said.

A slew of products allegedly were "prescribed" by Ross to Lewis. Among the items, holographic stickers, powders and beam-ray light with specific frequencies. Deer antler pills and sprays also were part of the package.

The SI.com report says Lewis was advised to use the spray every two hours under his tongue. Lewis then told Ross to "just pile me up and just send me everything you got, because I got to get back on this this week."

There is no proof Lewis received or ingested any of the substances named.

The Ravens' star vehemently denied the report when asked to respond at Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday.

"That was a two-year-old story that you want me to address," Lewis said. "I wouldn’t give him the credit, to even mention his name, or his antics. I can’t do it. I won’t even speak about it because I’ve been in this business 17 years. And nobody has ever got up with me every morning and trained with me. Every test I’ve ever taken in the NFL, there’s never been a question if I’ve ever thought about using anything. So to even entertain stupidity like that? Tell him to go and try get his story on somebody else."

Where it gets murky is whether or not the substances even work. Experts in chemistry and electrical engineering are cited in the report questioning S.W.A.T.S. products—"No such thing as negatively charged water," one official said.

Lewis isn't the only athlete named in the report, but he's arguably the highest-profile participating in Super Bowl XLVII.